THIS COULD BE YOU

Tim Dettmann
Physiotherapist Tim Dettmann returned to the Today Show, this time tackling the growing myth that exercise-related cortisol spikes are making people tired and fat. Tim explained that an increase in cortisol during exercise is completely normal, with levels generally returning to normal within around 90 minutes. More importantly, regular exercise actually helps keep cortisol within a healthy range over the long term. His message? Be wary of social media health advice that isolates and blames a single hormone for complex health issues. And a lovely shout-out from Tim himself… Tim shared that his media journey began with Kate’s PR MasterClass around 10 years ago, followed by persistence, refining his pitches and continuing to show up. As he put it, success came from finding the right expert, following the process and doing the work.

Riaza Manricks
Reimagining BusinessRaiza felt incredibly honoured to be featured in last month’s Marie Claire as the leadership expert in the ‘Besties Who Mean Business’ article by Bek Day.
The article explores the power of female friendships in business, and Riaza shared her perspective on why mixing business and friendships may not be the terrible idea we’ve been told for years.

Kylee Dennis
Two Face InvestigationsKylee Dennis is a former detective who now runs her own investigation agency after her own mum fell victim to a love scam.
She appeared in UK’s Woman magazine in a 3-page spread that was also mentioned on the cover – all about how she has devoted her life to snaring romance scammers.
Kylee was also interviewed at Nine studios for the That’s ACA podcast with Steve Marshall and Lizzie Pearl talking all things …… scams of course. She explained how they operate, the scary scale of their operations overseas and her surprising conversations with the person on the other side when she confronts them.

Diana Bueno
VIP Dental ClinicWith more people with healthy teeth exploring cosmetic dental treatments, influenced by social media filters, AI-enhanced images, and changing beauty trends, Diana Bueno appeared on Ticker to help viewers understand the considerations needed to make an informed decision before treatment.
While cosmetic dentistry may be appropriate for some individuals, it’s important to understand that every treatment has benefits, limitations, and potential risks. Decisions should be based on a thorough clinical assessment, individual needs, and realistic expectations.
She also featured in a Flying Solo article about her radical change of career direction after coming to Australia to learn English 26 years ago! She didn’t just start a new job – she started a whole new life.

Ben & Lee Koutoukidis
The Good Oil ClubBen and his wife Lee are professional olive oil tasters and sommeliers who spoke on James Willis’ Let’s Talk Business program on 2GB after pitching to the station at our Sydney MasterClass just 10 days prior!
Ben emphasised the world of difference between supermarket olive oils and what is grown in rural Italy. He also spoke about the business model behind the Good Oil Club bringing artisan extra virgin olive oil to everyday Australians.
The couple also featured in an Inside Small Business piece tracking the genesis and evolution of The Good Oil Club, after selling a mining business that they had spent 30 years building together. They admitted that what started as a curiosity about olive oil quickly became an obsession!

Kim Allen
CRA ConstructionConstruction CEO Kim joined Sky News to talk about rising fuel prices and the real impact it’s having on businesses in the construction industry.
With Brisbane preparing for the Olympics, there’s a huge push on delivery, timelines, and workforce — but what’s not being talked about enough is the cost pressure behind the scenes.
She also appeared on 10 News speaking about how small to medium construction businesses are bearing the brunt of price increases across the board. Fuel prices aren’t just hitting at the bowser. They’re flowing through the whole industry into materials, transport, labour, timelines.

Mark Williams
Rethinking the BrainGrad Dr Mark Williams has become the media’s go-to expert on the harmful effects of screens on the brain. He featured prominently in a lengthy 60 Minutes segment on ‘Digital Dementia’, offering clear, evidence‑based insight into how attention‑capturing tech design is affecting young brains.
His commentary – and the overwhelming response that followed – underscored how urgently families and educators are seeking guidance. Mark emphasised that the issue isn’t the devices themselves, but the systems engineered to keep children online, and the need for meaningful change.

Catie Paterson
Blue KiteHR Specialist Catie appeared on two great Ticker segments last month. With workers heading back to the office after their summer break, Catie covered why returning to work can feel so destabilising, even when you’ve had a great time off. In her second interview she spoke about the shifts happening in employment law around flexible work arrangements as the Fair Work Commission is currently examining what ‘reasonable business grounds’ actually means when employees request to work from home.
Catie was also quoted in two separate Dynamic Business articles, the first focused on the secret to maintaining quality whilst cutting production costs, saying ‘when resources are stretched, the instinct is often to push harder or cut corners. But true leadership is about doing better with less—not just more. The key is clarity and empowerment.’
The second article focussed on the challenges for SME’s of scaling from 5 to 20 people. Her suggestion is to prioritise clear communication, define roles early, and be deliberate about culture.

Riaza Manricks
Reimagining BusinessFresh Melbourne MasterClass grad Riaza kicked off the new year with a bang by appearing on the Today show sharing why many people feel the post-holiday ‘back to work ick’ and, more importantly, what to do about it.
Riaza also spoke with Radio National’s Todd McKenney about leadership and was quoted in an Inside Small Business article providing a wealth of simple, cost effective and actionable tips to help SME owners hit the ground running in 2026 and drive growth in their businesses.
PLUS she wrote an article for MamaMia about the 7 questions to ask yourself if the Sunday night ‘icks’ are lingering beyond just Sunday nights, contributed to a She Defined article on why female leadership requires more than confidence, AND contributed towards a Dynamic Business article about what really keeps more than 30 founders, executives, coaches and advisers going when motivation fades.
Amazing coverage Riaza, and in such a short time after pitching to the journos at our Melbourne event!

Jasmine Parasram
Creative Business KitchenJasmine pitched to the editor of SheDefined at our Melbourne MasterClass and was featured just 3 weeks later, saying ‘The thing is, we were sold a very specific dream: get a degree, get a good job, buy a house, get married, have 2.5 kids, retire comfortably. It was presented as a linear progression’. She’s never been sold on the dream of having kids and explained what she’s doing instead.
Jaz also appeared in the pages of The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, talking about her ADHD and Neurodivergent Business Success. She says, ‘I’m so glad I set up my business because, if I’m honest, I don’t think I would be a very good employee anymore – I have too much passion in pursuit of my own success to spend that on someone else’s dream.’

Nikki Drake
Smile Like Drake FoundationWithin just one week of pitching her courageous story to the journos at our Melbourne MasterClasss, Nikki was featured on both Sunrise, Channel 7 News, Ten News+ and the Daily Telegraph.
Nikki and her Smile Like Drake NFP have pioneered a world-first wearable AI drowning detection system, inspired by the loss of her only son to drowning. Chris Drake was 23 when knocked unconscious by a freak wave in Sydney in 2013. With help from leading innovation partners, Nikki has now developed AppTrakk, a high-tech solution to tackle both Australia’s and the world’s rising rates of drownings.
Such an inspiration Nikki!

Jo Lukins
Dr Jo LukinsMasterClass grad Dr Jo Lukins specialises in both elite performance in sport and the boardroom and spoke on multiple Mindwise interviews again on ABC Radio last month.
Topics included ‘Are you really an ISFJ? The surprising truth behind personality tests’, ‘Why do we put off health checks? Unpacking the fear of medical screening’, ‘No bad emotions: Turning every feeling into wisdom’ and ‘Inside your mind: The science of changing it’.

Goro Gupta
10 Properties in 10 YearsInvestment advisor Goro featured in a Four Corners report that explored the cracks in the governance of Australia’s disability housing market and exposed systemic regulatory failure.
More than $100 million has vanished in a financial scandal at the heart of the federal government’s disability housing program and this episode asked is this once in a generation opportunity at risk of collapse amid fraud, waste and shattered trust?

Luke Taylor
Crime StoryFormer detective Luke appeared as a crime expert on Today show not once, not twice but THREE TIMES in July as his multiple MasterClass attendances and easy-going can-do attitude have established him as the go-to expert in NSW crime.
As an English teacher Luke Taylor has secured a number of government grants for his Crime Story Experiential Learning: Work Skills Readiness workshops in schools across NSW. In his latest piece for Inside Small Business, he broke down the secrets to his success.
And as a former child abuse detective, he also outlined for the Daily Mail the top three steps for keeping your children safe from paedophile predators. Plus he featured in another Daily Mail piece about how Erin Patterson left herself exposed from the day of the fatal lunch.

Andrew Woodward
The Investor’s WayFor decades, the pilgrimage to Omaha for Berkshire Hathaway’s Annual Shareholder Meeting had been bucket list material for wealth advisor Andrew Woodward. There’s a reason the event attracts over 35,000 people every year – it’s the lessons it gives about life. Because the way you live can either build your wealth or bleed it dry.
And last month Andrew wrote a fab article for Boss Hunting mag about all he learnt outside of money and investing, after hanging onto every word from Warren Buffett across the six-and-a-half hours.
Andrew also contributed to an Inside Small Business article about how the proposed tax on unrealised super gains is now a real possibility after the recent federal election result.

Bronwen Sciortino
SheIQLifeYou’ve worked hard, ticked all the boxes, and built a life that looks good from the outside. But inside, something isn’t sitting right. Have you outgrown your goals? Are you doing the right things? Why does everyone else seem to have it all under control? Find out how to ditch the expectations and get the life you really want in simplicity expert Bronwen’s latest piece for Brainz magazine.
Last month Bronwen also penned a leadership piece for Forbes titled ‘How to Work Smarter & Get Healthier at the Same Time’ about how success and health go hand in hand, PLUS recorded a segment about stress on the 5 Minutes for Me app, AND wrote an article about leadership burnout for The Industry Leaders!
Brilliant coverage Bronwen!

Kylee Dennis
Two Face InvestigationsEx-detective turned private investigator and Sydney MasterClass grad Kylee had another phenomenal month of publicity. She chatted with Lindsay Mcdougall from ABC Illawarra Drive Time about the NSW Seniors Time to Shine Festival and scams that might affect older people.
She also was both humbled and excited to learn that she had been nominated for a Women Changing the World Award and was featured in an Illawarra Mercury feature piece about her nomination for the London event.
And it just kept coming with an ABC Melbourne interview, an ABC News piece, an article in The Senior, TWO interviews on 3AW, AND a 9Honey article as well!!
Kylee’s mission is to destigmatise the immense shame often associated with falling for an online scam. Victims have fallen prey to an international crime syndicate and surely deserve sympathy, not judgement.

Lucy Lines
Two Lines FertilityWhen couples struggle to conceive, the focus is almost always on the woman. Yet male infertility accounts for about a third of infertility problems and most men know very little about this! Embryologist and multiple MasterClass grad Lucy Lines provides education and resources to help individuals understand their bodies and navigate fertility options and contributed to a fab Body+Soul article on sperm health last month.
She continued the theme with a Herald Sun article highlighting the impact that vaping can have on sperm – just in case you need another reason to quit!
PLUS she’s become the go-to expert on toxins for Sunrise and appeared on the show again last month speaking about toxins in scented candles.

Simone Boer: GRADUATE OF THE MONTH
A Fresh Approach Coaching & ConsultingSimone continued her stellar run of media appearances in January by speaking on the first ABC Radio National Life Matters episode of 2025 about why your morning choices can determine the rest of your day.
She also featured in The Guardian’s article: New Year Goals: 25 Ways to Make Your Life Easier, Cheaper and More Fun in 2025 PLUS an article in The Australian Financial Review, where she shared how she has built an $8 million property portfolio with her partner, the challenges they’ve faced, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Spoiler alert: There’s nothing ‘passive’ about passive income! It takes strategy, perseverance, and a clear vision to make it happen.

Kylee Dennis: GRADUATE OF THE MONTH
Two Face InvestigationsEx-detective turned private investigator and Sydney MasterClass grad Kylee, featured in a Marie Claire article ‘Deep Fake Dates’ last month about how romance scams are getting smarter and more complex than ever.
Her average client used to be over 50, but she says it’s a worrying tend to see ‘victims’ now in their twenties, thirties and forties, with part of the reason being that scammers are getting smarter.
Kylee was also interviewed by Sky News as a finalist for the Harvey Norman Shine Awards celebrating the incredible women in regional Australia who make a difference in their communities.

Ethan Ashton: Graduate of the Month
Ethan AshtonTwenty-year-old International Model Ethan featured in a full-page Herald Sun article just 10 days after pitching to the journos at our Melbourne MasterClass last month!
He also strutted his stuff in a Channel 10 News segment charting his fairytale journey from Frankston car yard to London Fashion Week.
As Kate always says, media consumes other media. Ethan didn’t pitch his story to Channel 10, but having seen him in the pages of the Herald Sun, Channel 10 National News contacted him and he was on the news in two separate bulletins that very same night.
Ethan wants to use his platform to be an advocate and role model for those struggling in their teenage years. ‘The way things look for a certain period of time is not how they’re always going to look,’ he said, ‘Be in the moment with yourself, believe in yourself, nothing’s forever’.

Graduate of the Month: Amanda Farmer
Your Strata PropertyMultiple Meet the Press MasterClass grad and strata law expert Amanda featured across an amazing six pages of September’s Money Magazine after pitching to the editor at our Sydney MasterClass in May.
Amanda busted ‘strata myths’ and encouraged more family-friendly developments in her fab articles.
She also pitched to A Current Affair’s producer in Sydney and then strutted her stuff on the show last month, providing extensive commentary on The Sapphire Apartments Gosford saga.

Graduate of the Month: Emma McCallum
Portmanteau TravelEmma is a luxury travel planner for the rich and famous and has been curating fabulous trips for her lucky clients for years.
In August she wrote a piece for MamaMia about the most common requests she gets from these highflyers (huge wardrobe, no check-in or check-out times, privacy, flexible plans, top notch wine and cigars!).
Emma also penned a great feature article for Forbes Australia about the most premium private Aus and NZ holiday destinations for execs – we can only dream!

Graduate of the Month: Monique Cotton
WeeBellAre you working hard? Or just a hard worker?
Syd 24 MasterClass grad and entrepreneur Monique’s story about how she’s taking up multiple jobs to support herself and her family under the pressure of the rising cost of living, was featured in the Herald Sun, The Advertiser, and The Daily Telegraph, in both print and digital last month.
Whilst it’s nice to be sharing stories of wins and successes, Monique is equally hopeful that sharing stories of the struggles can help those who may also be going through similar challenges.

GRADUATE OF THE MONTH ALISHA BURNS
Solo Mum SocietyJust weeks after pitching to the producer at our Syd MasterClass in late May, Alisha continued her amazing run of media coverage with a fantastic Today Extra interview about supporting women in their solo mum by choice journey with Solo Mum Society.
Brilliant work Alisha – you spoke so confidently!
Catie Paterson
Blue Kite HR Consulting
Catie Paterson joined Ticker to talk about workplace culture, employee perks and what really keeps good people in their jobs. Catie explained that free snacks, wellness apps and office perks can become little more than a smokescreen when poor management or unhealthy workloads sit underneath them. Instead, she encouraged businesses to invest in their people and leaders, arguing that strong workplace culture comes from understanding what employees actually need, how they’re feeling and what motivates them, rather than simply ticking the perks box.
Damien Gooden

Damien Gooden featured in the latest Dynamic Business Let’s Talk, exploring the simple onboarding steps that can help reduce new-hire turnover. Damien stressed that great onboarding isn’t about thick manuals or fancy systems, but making sure new employees feel connected, supported and set up for success. He recommends giving every new starter a clear roadmap for their first 90 days, along with regular, genuine check-ins to identify concerns early and help people feel confident they’ve joined the right organisation.
Jo Lukins

Dr Jo Lukins joined The Locker Room Podcast to explore The Power of Writing Your Own Story and why reflecting on our experiences can be such a valuable tool. From memoirs and diaries to gratitude journalling, Jo discussed how putting our experiences into words can help us reflect, learn and make sense of them, including the way athletes use reflection to learn from their performance.
Kate Engler
Meet the Press MasterClass Founder
Kate returned to Ticker to unpack another week of PR winners and losers, looking at the stories, personalities and campaigns capturing attention for all the right, and wrong, reasons. This month, Kate and Ahron Young discussed the PR fallout surrounding One Nation, Andrew Hastie’s response to being publicly targeted, the controversy generated by Sydney Sweeney’s latest advertising campaign, and how old-school MapQuest suddenly found itself back in the spotlight after taking a different path to Google and Apple.
Kate joined Darlington on the Control or Be Controlled podcast for an episode rather fabulously titled; The PR Anti-Christ Reveals the Secrets to Getting Free Media Exposure. Kate spoke about why business owners don’t need to spend thousands with traditional PR agencies to generate powerful media coverage. She shared what journalists are actually looking for, where businesses go wrong with their pitches, and how entrepreneurs and experts can take control of their own publicity and build credibility through earned media.
Kate also joined Jeremy Yang – The Online Ads Guy podcast in September to talk about how business owners can generate media coverage without relying on a traditional PR agency. Kate shared how to uncover media-worthy angles already hiding within your business, why pitching a journalist is very different to pitching a customer, and how to know when your business is ready for media attention. She also explained why getting great coverage often means not talking directly about your business, but finding the bigger story journalists and their audiences care about.
Luke Taylor

Luke joined Bryan ‘Bears Head’ Fletcher and Joel ‘Sugar’ Caine on 1170 SEN for their popular True Crime Tuesday segment. He shared some serious and lighter moments with the boys, enjoying plenty of laughs behind the scenes along the way. A fitting final media appearance before heading off for a well-earned few weeks of R&R after a huge six months!
Riaza Manricks
Reimagining Business
Riaza Manricks featured on news.com.au, weighing in on the controversial decision by a CEO to scrap his company’s entire HR department. Riaza acknowledged that HR teams can become too focused on compliance and “tick-box exercises” rather than supporting leaders and commercial outcomes. But she also raised the critical question of what happens when HR disappears altogether: people issues don’t disappear with the department, so does that work simply fall to leaders already trying to drive performance and deliver results?
Riaza Manricks also featured in Small BOB (Businesses of Brisbane), a platform celebrating the people behind Brisbane’s local businesses. In Riaza’s story, Backing Myself & Finding My Way Back, she reflects on the journey from a 15-year corporate banking career to finally acting on a thought she’d carried since her graduate days. She shares how coaching, motherhood and backing herself to leave corporate life eventually led to building Reimagining Business, and how returning to her hometown of Brisbane has brought the journey full circle.
Sarah Stephens
Florentis Health
Sarah Stephens joined Ticker to discuss how our everyday phone habits could be affecting our attention spans and cognitive health. Sarah explained how constantly switching between apps and content may be training our brains to expect shorter bursts of stimulation. But thanks to neuroplasticity, our brains can also adapt in a positive direction, and Sarah shared practical ways we can slow down, strengthen our focus and better support our long-term brain health.
Tim Dettmann

Physiotherapist Tim Dettmann returned to the Today Show, this time tackling the growing myth that exercise-related cortisol spikes are making people tired and fat. Tim explained that an increase in cortisol during exercise is completely normal, with levels generally returning to normal within around 90 minutes. More importantly, regular exercise actually helps keep cortisol within a healthy range over the long term. His message? Be wary of social media health advice that isolates and blames a single hormone for complex health issues. And a lovely shout-out from Tim himself… Tim shared that his media journey began with Kate’s PR MasterClass around 10 years ago, followed by persistence, refining his pitches and continuing to show up. As he put it, success came from finding the right expert, following the process and doing the work.
Vanessa Bell

Vanessa Bell joined Ahron Young on Ticker to discuss why traceability is fast becoming essential commercial infrastructure for the fashion industry. With Europe moving towards greater product transparency, Vanessa explained why brands increasingly need to know not just who made their clothes, but where the fibers actually came from and whether they can prove it. Her advice to Australian businesses is to start tracing products now, rather than waiting for regulation to force them to reconstruct years of supply-chain data.Vanessa also joined Bendigo Bank’s Beyond the Farm Gate podcast to share her incredible journey from the international runway to growing Merino wool and founding a luxury knitwear brand. Vanessa discusses the versatility of Australian wool, the importance of telling its story to a new generation, and the role women will play in the future of agriculture. To mark International Day of Rural Women, Vanessa will also feature in a special Bendigo Bank exclusive interview filmed around the Women of Wool luncheon at the Bendigo Sheep Show to be aired in October!
Alisha Burns
Solo Mum Society
Alisha Burns, founder of the Solo Mum Society, appeared on the Parents You’ve Got This – The Expert Guide to Parenthood Podcast. She spoke about becoming a mama on her own – and gearing her life around helping other women to do the same.
She shared loads of great insights and tips around first steps, sperm donation, navigating costs, and some pros and cons of being a solo parent.
Jo Lukins

MasterClass grad Dr Jo Lukins continues to turn psychology into practical, everyday tools. In August, she joined Upstream Leadership’s Meanjin Leadership & Cultural Development Program to explore gratitude, reframing and the power of small, consistent actions, and returned to ABC North Queensland to unpack why everyday stress can trigger our ancient survival response — and how to get our thinking back online.
Kate Engler
Meet the Press MasterClass Founder
In Kate’s Ticker interviews this month she discussed the winners and losers in the masculinity space, and the importance of using the right messages in times of crisis
Kate also joined BizBlend to talk about why traditional PR can shut small business out of media opportunities, and how founders can generate powerful coverage themselves. She shares insight into what journalists actually want, the pitching mistakes that contribute to businesses being overlooked, and why AI-generated pitches could do more harm than good.
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